"The IEEE shall strive to enhance the quality of life for all people throughout the world through the constructive application of technology in its fields of competence. It shall endeavor to promote understanding of the influence of such technology on the public welfare." IEEE Constitution.

This special issue of the ASET bulletin has an ambitious goal which is the initiation of the creation of the Tunisian IEEE Section. This timely and historical decision, has gathered several supporters all over the country testifying to the maturity and confidence of the Tunisian scientific community. It is nothing short from the determination, of the Tunisian IEEE-family, to take part in the unprecedented growth of the Institute. The Electrical Engineering community, in Tunisia, is ready to actively participate in the Institute’s liveliness and thus take its place on the IEEE map with its sister’s sections.

In order to thrust in motion, and launch on solid grounds, a Tunisian IEEE section, this issue has the difficult task to provide some basic information about the Institute and thus encourage the readers to apply for membership and motivate all kind of members to consider applying for elevation. Most of the information gathered in this issue can be found, as scattered material, in the Institute’s web pages.

Should anyone have any question regarding the Institute I will be more than happy to answer his/her question or point him/her to the appropriate source or person. Moreover, to receive the petition to form the Tunisian IEEE section/subsection, feel free sending me your (e)address. In order to do so, please use the following address [email protected] or Fax number 1-872 729.

Finally I would like thank the Institute for granting its permission to display its logo in this special IEEE issue. Moreover, I would like to thank Prof. M. Ksouri, the president of ASET, for inviting me to edit this important historic special issue of the ASET Bulletin.

IEEE Constitution (excerpts) (2)

Quick Facts (3)

Membership (3)

IEEE Code of Ethics (5)

Requirements to Establish an IEEE Section/Subsection (6)

Useful IEEE URLs (7)

Sec. 1. The name of this society is The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, hereinafter called the IEEE.

Sec. 2. Its purposes are: (a) scientific and educational, directed toward the advancement of the theory and practice of electrical engineering, electronics, radio and the allied branches of engineering and the related arts and sciences; means to these ends include, but are not limited to, the holding of meetings for the reading and discussion of professional papers, and the publication and circulation of works of literature, science and art pertaining thereto; (b) professional, directed toward the advancement of the standing of the members of the professions it serves; means to this end include, but are not limited to, the conduct and publication of surveys and reports on matters of professional concern to the members of such professions, collaboration with public bodies and with other societies for the benefit of the engineering professions as a whole, and the establishment of standards of qualification and ethical conduct. The IEEE shall not engage in collective bargaining on such matters as salaries, wages, benefits, and working conditions, customarily dealt with by labor unions.

The IEEE shall strive to enhance the quality of life for all people throughout the world through the constructive application of technology in its fields of competence. It shall endeavor to promote understanding of the influence of such technology on the public welfare.

Sec. 3. The character of its scope is transnational and the territory in which its operations are to be conducted is the entire world. In addition to its world-wide operations, the IEEE may engage in activities directed to the interests and needs of members residing in a particular country or area of the world. The procedure for undertaking such activities shall be specified in the Bylaws. The IEEE shall have its principal offices in the State of New York from which it shall carry out its general administrative functions in accordance with the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. Its publication activities are to be principally in the United States, as well as its largest membership meetings.

• Over 352, 000 Members
• About 33,000 Affiliate Members
• Over 53,000 Student Members
• 35% of Members from Outside USA
• 297 Sections
• 1183 Chapters
• 1032 Student Branches
• 36 Technical Societies, 4 Technical Councils
• 419,000 Pages Published in 1999
• 581,000 Documents in IEEE Digital Library
• $200M+ Budget

The grade of Member is limited to those who have demonstrated professional competence in IEEE-designated fields. For admission or transfer to the grade of Member, a candidate shall be either:

a) An individual engaged in IEEE-designated fields (1) who shall have received a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent in those fields from a program on the Reference List of Educational Programs, or (2) who shall have had at least three years of experience in a position normally requiring the qualification listed under (1), which may be accepted in lieu of the educational requirements at the discretion of the Admission & Advancement Committee.

b) A teacher of a subject in an IEEE-designated field who shall have received a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent in those fields from a program on the Reference List of Educational Programs, or who has had at least three years of professional teaching experience and shall have participated in planning and conducting courses.

c) A person regularly employed in IEEE-designated fields for at least six years who, by experience, has demonstrated competence in work of a professional character.

d) An executive who, for at least six years, has had under his/her direction important technical, engineering, or research work in IEEE-designated fields.

The grade of Senior Member is the highest for which application may be made and shall require experience reflecting professional maturity. For admission or transfer to the grade of Senior Member, a candidate shall be an engineer, scientist, educator, technical executive, or originator in IEEE-designated fields. The candidate shall have been in professional practice for at least ten years and shall have shown significant performance over a period of at least five of those years, such performance including one or more of the following:

• Substantial engineering responsibility or achievement, or
• Publication of engineering or scientific papers, books, or inventions, or
• Technical direction or management of important scientific or engineering work with evidence of accomplishment, or
• Recognized contributions to the welfare of the scientific or engineering profession, or
• Development or furtherance of important scientific or engineering courses in a program on the "reference list of educational programs" (REP list) or
• Contributions equivalent to those of (a) to (e) in areas such as technical editing, patent prosecution, or patent law, provided these contributions serve to advance progress substantially in IEEE-designated fields.

Prospective members who would like to apply directly for Senior Member grade should submit a Member Application along with a Senior Member elevation form.

The grade of Fellow recognizes unusual distinction in the profession and shall be conferred only by invitation of the Board of Directors upon a person of outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in IEEE-designated fields, and who has made important individual contributions to one or more of these fields. The year of election to the grade of Fellow is the year following affirmative action by the Board of Directors in conferring the grade of Fellow.

The candidate shall hold Senior Member grade at the time the nomination is submitted. Normally, the candidate shall have been a member in any grade for a period of five years or more preceding January 1 of the year of election; however, the five-year membership requirement may be waived for a Fellow candidate who has been engaged in professional practice (as needed to qualify for Senior Member grade) in a geographical area where, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it was difficult to become a member previously, as evidenced by the absence of a Section previously and the recent formation of a new Section to cover that geographical area. In such cases, membership of five years or more in a recognized local electrical, electronics, or computer engineering society may substitute for the five-year IEEE membership requirement, when the nomination is submitted within four years after the formation of the new Section.

The grade of Associate is designed for technical and non technical applicants who do not presently meet the qualifications for Member grade, but who would benefit through membership and participation in the IEEE, and for those who are progressing, through continuing education and work experience, towards the qualifications for Member grade.

a) A Student Member must carry at least 50% of a normal full-time academic program as a registered undergraduate or graduate student in a regular course of study in IEEE designated fields.

b) Student Members, upon graduation with at least a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a program on the Reference List of Educational Programs, shall be transferred to Member grade.

c) Student Members other than those qualifying under subparagraph (b) upon graduation with at least a two-year degree, shall be transferred to Associate grade

1. Honorary Members. Honorary Members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the IEEE except the right to hold office therein.

2. Fellows. Fellows shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the IEEE.

3. Senior Members. Senior Members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the IEEE except the right to serve on the Fellow Committee.

4. Members. Members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the IEEE except the right to hold (1) any corporate office, (2) the office of Director, (3) membership on the Admission and Advancement Committee, the Awards Board, or the Fellow Committee.

5. Associates. Associates shall be entitled to attend meetings off IEEE members,, too vote only on matters presented to groups of members (such as Societies and Sections), and to be appointed on committees with the right to vote when specifically approved by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. (See Bylaw I-312.)

IEEE membership runs on a calendar year, January - December.

All applications received after 15 August will automatically be processed for following year's full year membership (services begin immediately). Full year membership is automatically processed from 1 September through 15 February.

Between 15 February and 15 August, applications are processed for half year membership (ending 31 December), unless the applicant specifically requests their application be processed for the full year. However, we can not guarantee availability of back issues of all publications for the full year. The reduced dues program is NOT available to those who have been awarded a doctoral degree.

It is so simple to become a member. Just go to the following URL and follow the steps therein http://www.ieee.org/membership/join/.

It is important to know that IEEE offers considerable membership rebates under its Special Circumstances program.

IEEE realizes that economic circumstances may impact some members' ability to pay the full amount of IEEE membership dues. For this reason the following special circumstance categories have been established. Special circumstances are not available to Student members. Only one category may be claimed, in any year.

For more information visit: http://www.ieee.org/membership/dues.html

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:

1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;

2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;

3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;

4. to reject bribery in all its forms;

5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;

6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;

7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;

8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;

9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;

10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.

Approved by the IEEE Board of Directors, August 1990

A Section is a basic operating entity of IEEE constituted by a minimum of fifty (50) members and established with the approval of the Regional Activities Board by petition of those who live/work in relatively close proximity to be served by activities that meet their needs and further the missions of IEEE.

A Subsection is a part of a Section, constituted by a minimum of twenty (20) members, and established with the approval of the Regional Activities Board by petition to the Section Executive Committee, who live/work in relatively close proximity to be served by the activities that meet their needs and further the missions of IEEE.

Using this petition form, or a document which captures this information, please note the following:

1. The petition should specify the name of the proposed Section/Subsection.

2. The petition must be signed by fifty (50) members for Section formation and twenty (20) members for Subsection formation, other than Student Grade, having IEEE mailing addresses within the territorial limits of the proposed Section/Subsection. It is suggested that more than the specified amount of names and signatures be included to assure that all petitioners qualify, thus speeding the processing of the petition.

3. The territorial boundaries of the proposed Section/Subsection (country, state, postal codes, etc.), should be specifically delineated in the petition. Section petitions must also list the concurring and nonconcurring Sections that are involved in the territory concerned. Comments from the Sections involved in the territory exchange should also be attached.

4. The proposed Section shall indicate in writing that they will abide by the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws and published interpretations of policy, and shall adopt Section Bylaws conforming to these documents. Suggested sample bylaws are available.

5. Send the completed petition via fax to + 1 732 463 9359 or mail to:

IEEE REGIONAL ACTIVITIES

Section/Chapter Support

445 Hoes Lane

P.O. Box 1331

Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331

6. Regional Activities staff will review the petition and work with the organizers to resolve any discrepancies. Formal approval of the Activities Board will follow.

Membership Development Committee:

www.ieee.org/organizations/rab/md/volunteercommittees.html

The Benefits of IEEE Membership:

www.ieee.org/membership/reason1.html

Establishing Your IEEE Web Account:

www.ieee.org/web/accounts/

Setting Up or Changing Your IEEE Email Alias:

http://eleccomm.ieee.org/

Renew Your IEEE Membership:

www.ieee.org/membership/renewal

IEEE Membership Application:

www.ieee.org/membership/join/

Student Membership Application:

www.ieee.org/membership/join/

IEEE Local Sections/Chapters:

www.ieee.org/organizations/rab/sec_chap/

Senior Member Updates:

www.ieee.org/organizations/rab/md/smupdates.html

IEEE Explore:

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/

IEEE Online Store/Catalog

http://shop.ieee.org/store/

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